Machine tool



Dec. 14, 1965 A. H. FoTscH ETAL MACHINE TOOL 8 Sheets-Sheet l OriginalFiled June 1, 1959 Dec. 14, 1965 A. H. FoTscH ET A1. 3,223,224

MACHNE TOOL Original Filed June l, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 14, 1965A. H. r-oTscH ETAL MACHINE TOOL 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June l,1959 NWN S om

Dec. 14, 1965 A. H. FoTscH ET Al.

MACHINE TOOL 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June l, 1959 v.. SS B MNQDec. 14, 1965 A. H. FoTscH ET AL MACHINE TOOL Original Filed June loflfag Dec. 14, 1965 A. H. FOTSCH ETAL 3,223,224

MACHINE TOOL original Filed June 1, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 14, 1965A. H. FoTscH Erm. 3,223,224

MACHINE TOOL original Filed June 1, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 'r Dec. 14, 1965A. H. ForscH ETAL 3,223,224

MACHINE TOOL Urignal Filed June l, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 United StatesPatent O claims. (C1. 19a- 19) This is a division of United StatesPatent No. 3,189,154 issued June 15, 1965, which, in turn, is a divisionof a parent application, now United States Patent No. 3,118,- 332,issued January 21, 1964.

This invention relates generally to machines having a transfer line foradvancing workpieces in increments into a series of stationssuccessively.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an inspectionstation in a workpiece transfer line to facilitate the inspection of theworkpieces before they are removed from the machine.

Another object is to provide a workpiece transfer line with aninspection station wherein heavy workpieces may be maneuvered intodifferent positions with a minimum effort on the part of the operator tofacilitate their inspection.

Another object is to provide a workpiece transfer line with aninspection station wherein heavy workpieces may be readily rotated orshifted by power between a vertical position and a horizontal positionfor the convenience of the operator inspecting them.

According to this invention the improved workpiece transfer line isprovided with an inspection station which is especially adapted tofacilitate maneuvering a heavy workpiece for the convenience of theoperator who is inspecting the workpiece. The transfer mechanism whichadvances the workpieces in increments along the transfer line moves eachof the completed Workpieces into the inspection station where theworkpiece is rotatably supported in a frame while it is in a verticalposition for the convenience `of the operator who is inspecting theworkpiece. To further facilitate such inspection, the workpiece may beclamped to the frame and the latter pivoted downwardly to locate theworkpiece in a horizontal position for rendering portions of it moreaccessible to the inspector.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will become more fullyapparent from the following detailed description, and may be achieved bythe exemplifyin g apparatus depicted in and further described in detailin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1, la and 1b are fragmentary plan views of a machine toolincorporating the features of the present invention and takencollectively, in the order stated, show a complete plan view, of themachine tool organization for carrying out a number of work operationson a series of railroad car wheels, the progress of the car wheels beingfrom left to right;

FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b, taken collectively, in the order stated, show afront elevational view of the transfer mechanisms employed, andcorrespond to the showing made in FIGS. 1, la and 1b respectively, thevarious machine units and other structure being lomitted to more clearlyshow the arrangement of the transfer mechanisms;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine tool organizationshowing the relationship of the last profiling and turning machine unittherein with respect to the transfer line and including the three idlestations preceding the unit and one idle station following the unit;

3,223,224 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 ice FIG. 4 is a fragmentary frontelevational view of the machine tool organization corresponding to theshowing made in FIG. 3 and illustrating the transfer mechanism employedwith the profiling and turning unit depicted in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in transverse vertical section taken along the planerepresented by the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view in front elevation depicting thecarrier mechanism associated with the transfer mechanism employed at thelast profiling and turning station;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view in right side elevation illustratingthe carrier shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged bottom view of the carrier shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a right side elevational view illustrating the inspectionstation as seen from the discharge side of the station.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational View of a move out station as observedfrom a position transverse of the transfer line on the discharge side ofthe unit, with parts being broken away to more clearly show the variousmechani-sms associated therewith;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the move out station shown in FIG. 10; and,

FIGS. 12, 12a, 12b and 12e are schematic views i1- lustrating thevarious positions of the rotary table of the move out stati-on, shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, as effected by the cam and the cam follower.

While the invention herein described is a preferred embodiment, it isnot intended to limit the invention to the specic form and arrangementshown, it being contemplated that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Reference is now made to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 1a,1b, 2, 2a 'and 2b thereof, which illustrate a production type machinetool capable of performing a series of work operations `on a circularworkpiece such as a railroad car wheel W while they are disposed inseparate machining units or work stations of the'- machine tool. It isto be understood that FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b are plan views of threecontiguous sections of the machine and taken together in order,constitute a plan View of the entire machine. In like manner, FIGS. 2,2a and 2b are front elevational views of three contiguous sections ofthe transfer mechanism organization and taken together in the orderstated constitute a front elevational view showing the transfermechanisms of the machine. The work machining stations are indicatedgenerally in FIGS. 1, 1a, 1b, 2, 2o: and 2b by the reference numerals23, 27, 31, 36 and 43 and are spaced along a guideway on which theworkpieces are advanced step-by-step by transfer mechanisms Si), 51, 52,53, 54 and 55. The arrangement is such that each Work station isassociated with an independently operating transfer mechanism. Each workstation is separated from the adjacent work station by one or more idlestations 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 37, 3S, 4G, 41, 42, fifi, 45and 47 and move out stations 25, 29, 33 and 39. Inserted into the line'between the idle stations 45 and 47 is an inspection station 45.Preceding and following the line of work and idle stations is a loadingstation 21 and a receiving station 48 respectively from which workpiecesare supplied to the machining units and in which the finished workpiecesare unloaded. Preceding the loading station 21 and following thereceiving station 48 are storage stations 20 and 49 respectively. Aplurality of `workpieces may be stored in the storage station 20 priorto being moved into the loading station while the finished workpiecesmay be moved from the receiving station 48 into the storage station 49for storage and subsequent disposition.

The move out stations 25, 29, 33 and 39 serve as access stations forremoving from or inserting workpieces into the line to thereby renderthe machine tool extremely flexible in operation. By employing the moveout stations one or more of the machines or work stations may beinoperative, for servicing or other reasons, without stopping theoperation of the entire machine tool. For example, if the work station27 is down for any reason this station may be by-passed by removingworkpieces from the line through operation of the move out station 25and the workpieces may be reinserted back into the line through the moveout station 29.

The inspection station 46 provides for inspection of the workpiece aftera complete work operation has been performed on it so that an imperfectworkpiece may be removed from the line prior to its being transferred tothe receiving and storage stations 43 and 49. Thus, only completelyacceptable finished workpieces will be transferred to the receiving andstorage stations.

The workpieces or car wheels in the various stations are rotatablyadvanced into the succeeding stations along a lhorizontal guide rail 65on a bed structure defining a rectilinear path of advance of the carwheels through the series of stations. The guide rail 65 is secured andpositioned on a base structure 57, as shown in FIG. 5, and is welded orotherwise secured to the top surface of a bed structure 66. Spaced alongthe bed structure 66 and upstanding therefrom are a plurality of columns58 having laterally extending overarms 59 which serve to carry ahorizontally disposed reinforcing plate member 6i) to which an upper carwheel guideway is secured. The upper guideway comprises a pair ofhorizontally extending spaced apart fence rails 61 and 62 which serve toconfine the top portion of the car wheel therebetween to maintain thecar wheels in an upright position as they are rolled along on the lowerguide rail 65'.' -Arlower or bottom fence rail 63 carried by the base 57is disposed to engage the flanged side of the car wheel to prevent itfrom slipping off of the lower guide rail 65. The columns 58 aredisposed on either side of the bed structure 66 as may be desired so asnot to interfere with operation of the various Work stations.

The machines or work stations shown in the exemplary embodiment involvethe performance of four different metal removing operations. At station23 a boring operation is performed to rough bore the axial opening inthe hub of the car wheel. At station 27 a facing operation is performedto face the back surface of the liange of the car wheel. At station 31another facing operation is performed to machine the front face surfaceof the hub and also the outer surface of the car wheel rim. Stations 36and 43 are identical and at these stations a turning operation isperformed on the flange to generate a desired contour thereto and alsoto turn the periphery of the running surface of a car wheel. Thus, thework operations performed on the car wheels at stations 23, 27 and 31are relatively fast operations, while the work operation performed atstations 36 and 43 is a relatively slower operati-on takingapproximately twice as long as the operations performed at stations 23,27 and 31. Therefore, the exemplary machine tool shown, includes the twostations 36 and 43 for turning the tiange and periphery of two differentcar wheels simultaneously so that the entire machine tool may operate ata speed time to the faster operations.

The boring machine at station 23 comprises a chuck head 70 which issupported on a base 71 and is operable to receive and hold a car wheellocated at the station in axial alignment with `a boring tool 72 carriedby a tool head 73. The tool 4head 73 is supported for reciprocalmovement in a direction transverse to the transfer line to feed theboring tool to the car wheel. The boring tool 72 is rotatably driven bya motor 74 supported on the base 71 The boring tool and chuck headstructure of station 23 are described in. United States Patent No.3,188,890

4 issued June l5, 1965, and therefore will not be described here indetail.

The facing machine at station 27 generally comprises a base 30 whichextends transversely of the production line on either side thereof andhas a fixture head 81 supported thereon. The fixture head 81 is providedwith a rotatable and axially movable chucking spindle 82 which ismovable into the axial opening of a hub of a car wheel at the stationand operable to securely clamp the car wheel thereto. ln order to clampthe car Wheel in machining position the chucking spindle S2 with the carwheel secured thereto is retracted to force the car wheel against arotatable drum supported within the fixture head, and the drum and thecar wheel secured to it -are rotated. A pair of tool holders 84 and 85are mounted on a slide 86 that is supported for movement parallel to thetransfer line on a pair of ways 87 provided on a cross slide 88. Thecross slide 88 is supported for transverse movement toward and away fromthe transfer line on a pair of Ways 89 provided on the base 8f3. Thus,the tools carried by the tool holders 34 and S5 may be advanced intoWork engagement with the rotating car wheel 4by advancing the crossslide 88 and then be moved parallel to the car wheel to perform thedesired facing operation on the car wheel through the feeding movementof the slide 86.

The facing machine at station 31 is identical to the facing machine atstation 27 with the exception that it is reversed so that a facingoperation may be performed on the opposite side of a car wheel at thestation. Thus, the fixture head 81a is disposed on the base Sila at therear of the transfer line. The fixture head 81a is provided With arotatable and axially movable chucking spindle 32a which is rotatablydriven by a motor 83a. Likewise, a pair of tool holders 84a and 85a aremounted `in car wheel facing position on a slide 86a which is supportedfor movement parallel to the transfer line on a pair of ways 87aprovided on a cross slide 88a. The cross slide 88a is supported formovement transversely of the transfer line toward and away from thechuck head 81a, on a pair of ways 89a provided on the base 80a.

The machine -units at stations 36 and 43 are identical, and generallycomprise fixture heads and 95a in which rotatable and axially movablechucking spindles 560 and 561, respectively, are supported. The fixturehead structures 95 and 95a are identical to the fixture heads 81 and 81aat stations 27 and 31. The fixture heads 95 and 95a have axial movablechucking spindles 560 and 561 which are operable to engage the walls ofthe axial openings of the car wheels and are operable to retract the carwheels from the guide rail 65 to clamp them in machining position.

The machine units at stations 36 and 43 include tool units 97 and 97awhich are located on the right hand side of the fixture heads 95 and95a, respectively, as viewed in FIGS. 1a and 1b. The tool units 97 and97a comprise tool carrying cross slides 98 and 98a which are supportedfor movement towards or away from their respective ixture heads, on ways99 and 99a provided on compound slides 101 and 10M, respectively. Thecompound slides 101 and lilla are supported for movement toward or awayfrom the production line on ways 102 and 102a provided on bases 103 and10361, respectively. The tools carried on the cross slides 98 and 98aare employed to turn the periphery of the tread of the car wheel and toform the radius of the edge of the car wheel which is adjacent the treadand front face of the wheel.

The machines at stations 36 and 43 also include tool units 107 and 107awhich are disposed to the left side of their respective fixture heads 95and 95a, as viewed in FIGS. 1a and lb. The tool units 107 and 107acomprise tool carrying cross slides 108 and 103er which are supportedfor movement parallel to the transfer line towards or away from theirrespective fixture heads 95 and 95a, on ways 109 and 109e provided oncompound slides 110 and l10n, respectively. The. compoundV slides 110and 110a are supported for movement toward or away from the transferline on ways 111 and 111e provided on bases 112 and 112e. The toolscarried by the cross slides 108 and 108a are disposed so as to engagewith the ilange of the car wheels located in the respective stations toperform a profiling operation on the flange of the car wheel.

The stations 21 through 48 are equally spaced along the path of travelof the workpieces. Preferably, the two turning stations are disposed asthe last two work stations, as shown in FIGS. la and 1b, so that all ofthe relatively faster work operations may be performed first with therelatively slower turning operations being formed as the last workoperations.

The car wheels are advanced through the various stations by means of thetransfer mechanisms 58, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55, as previously mentioned,each of which is independently operable between certain prescribedstations. Thus, the transfer mechanism 50 associated with the workstation 23 is operable to transfer car wheels from stations 21 through26; the transfer mechanism 51, associated with the work station 27operates to transfer car wheels from station 26 through station 28; thetransfer mechanism 52, associated with the work station 31 operatesbetween station 28 through station 34; the transfer mechanisms 53 andS4, associated With the work stations 36 and 43, respectively, havetheir transfer bars connected together and operate as a unit fromstation 33 through station 46; and the transfer mechanism 55, associatedwith the inspection station 46 operates from station 45 through station48.

With the exemplary machine tool shown it is contemplated transferringcar wheels through the series of stations in a manner that each carwheel dwells in and is machined at each of the stations 23, 27 and 31 atwhich the relatively faster machining operations are performed, Whilecar Wheels are moved into and machined in the slow operating stations 36and 43 where the car wheels remain while two cycles are being completedat the faster stations. To accomplish this, the car wheels in stations33 through 44 are advanced in double length steps so that a car wheel instation 34 will be moved into Work station 36 while a car wheel instation 33 is moved past station 34 and into station 35. The car wheelin station 41 will be moved into the slow work station 43 while the carwheel in station 42 will be advanced through the slow station 43 intostation 44. Thus, a 4car wheel that is in the even numbered station 34will have the slower turning operation performed on it at the evennumbered station 36 While the car wheel in the odd numbered station 33will have the slower turning operations performed on it at the oddnumbered station 43.

In order to accomplish this double step transfer, the transfer mechanism54, acting as a unit with the transfer mechanism S3, must also operateto transfer car wheels from stations 43 and 44 into stations 4S and 46,respectively, to clear those stations for the car wheels from stations41 and 42. Since the transfer mechanisms S3 and 54 need only operateevery other cycle, the transfer mechanism 5S operating between stations45 through 48 will necessarily operate every cycle. In operating everycycle the transfer mechanism 55 will serve to advance car wheels instations 45, 46 and 47 one station in every cycle. Thus, in a firstcycle of operation the car wheels in stations 45, 46 and 47 will beadvanced to stations 46, 47 and 48, respectively. In the second cycle ofoperation and operating in conjunction with the cycle of operation ofthe transfer mechanisms 53 and 54, the car wheels in stations 46 and 47will be advanced into stations 47 and 48, respectively, making thestations 45 and 46 available to car wheels from stations 43 and 44advance in a double step by the transfer mechanisms 53 and 54.

The correlated differential advancing movements of the car wheelsthrough the machine may be effected through the use of the independenttransfer mechanisms St) through 55 of the reciprocable type. Thesetransfer mechanisms are arranged to be actuated in proper timed sequenceand to act selectively on the proper car Wheels in the differentstations. Herein, the transfer mechanism 54 associated with the turningstation 43 for accomplishing the double station transfer betweenstations 4i) through 46 is set forth in detail and comprises a pair ofhorizontally disposed guide bars 116 and 117 which are secured in spacedrelationship to the columns 58 in mounting brackets 118, 118a, 11811 and118e, the guide bars 116 and 117 being of a length to extend betweenstations 40 and 42, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A transfer bar carrier, generally indicated by the reference numeral119, is slidably mounted on the guide bars 116 and 117 for movementbetween a retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to an advancedposition at the opposite end of the bars 116 and 117, at station 42. Thetransfer bar carrier 119 as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 comprises a pairof spaced arm members 120 and 121 that are disposed so as to extendtransversely of the guide bars 116 and 117. A tubular elongated bearingmember 122 having an axial bore 123 is secured to the top surfaces ofthe arm members 128 and 121 as by welding. A second tubular bearingmember 124 having an axial bore 125 is secured to the bottom surface ofthe two arm members as by Welding. The two bearing members 122 and 124are adapted to be slidably mounted on the guide bars 116 and 117 in amanner so that the carrier 119 is slidably supported on the bars formovement between the stations 40 and 42, as previously mentioned. Theinner extending ends of the arm members 120 and 121 are provided withaligned openings through which a relatively long transfer bar member 127extends.

Mounted about the transfer bar 127 and disposed between the two armmembers is an actuating sleeve member 128 which is pin connected to thetransfer bar 127 so as to be operable to move the transfer bar axiallyand also to effect its rotation. The actuating member 128 which isdisposed between the two arm members 120 and 121 is provided with a pairof downwardly or radially extending spaced apart lugs 130 and 131 towhich is pivotally secured the free end of a piston rod 137 of a fluidactuator, generally indicated by the reference numeral 132. The iluidactuator 132 comprises a cylinder 133 which is disposed between the twoarm members 120 and 121. The cylinder 133 has one end pivotably securedto a rod 135 which is mounted in the outwardly extending ends of thearms 120 and 121 that are rigidly reinforced by straps 134 and 13461.The cylinder 133 reciprocably supports a piston which is provided withthe piston rod 137, the free end of which is pivotably connected to thelugs 130 and 131 of the actuating sleeve member 128, as previouslymentioned, and, as clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. To effect movement ofthe transfer bar carrier 119 between stations 40 and 42 to produce anaxial movement of the transfer bar 127 from a retracted position to anadvanced position and return there is provided a fluid actuatorcomprising a relatively long cylinder 136 that is mounted on the sidesof the coiumns 58. A piston (not shown) is reciprocably supported withinthe cylinder and is provided with an elongated piston rod 184 the freeend of which is threadedly connected into the side of the arm 121. Thetransfer bar 127 may therefore be moved axially by actuation of thepiston in the cylinder 136 and it may be pivoted about its axis by theoperation of the actuator 132.

To effect movement of car wheels at stations 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 in acontrolled rolling movement of advancement on the guide rail 65, thetransfer bar 127 is provided with a plurality of arm members 138, 138e,13812, 138C, 138d, 138e and 13S/ The arm members 138 to 138i, inclusive,serve to actuate and control the advancement of the car wheels and areprovided with rollers 139, 13951, 13911, 139C, 139d, 139e, 1391, 139g,1391i, 1391', 139]' and 139k. Since the arms 138 and 138f are the endarms of the transfer bar they are provided with the single rollers 139and 139k, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3 and 4. Theintermediate arms 13851, 138k, 138C, 133er' 'and 138e, each are providedwith a pair of rollers, the arm 138a having the rollers 139a and 139b,the arm 138]) having the rollers 139C and 139d, the arm 138C having therollers 139e and 1391, the arm 138:1 being provided with the rollers139g and 139k, and the arm 138e having the rollers 139i and 139]'. Therollers of the respective arms are so arranged that when the actuator132 is operated to rotate the transfer bar 127 and pivot the arms 138 to138e inclusive, into an operating or transfer position the rollers 139and 139e serve to engage the periphery of a car wheel in the station 39,as shown in FIG. 2a, while the other rollers similarly engage theperipheries of the other car wheels in the line in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 2b. Thus, upon axial movement of the transfer bar127 in a direction to advance the car wheels, the rollers 139, 139b,139:1', 139k, and 1391', will operate to produce a rolling movement ofthe car wheels associated therewith while, the rollers 139a, 139C, 139e,139g, 139i and 139k will serve to control the rolling advancement of thewheels. When the transfer bar 127 is moving in a direction of transferit will move between a plurality of sets of guide rollers 141, 141a,141b and 141C which serve to support and guide the unsupported extendingend of the transfer bar as it moves axially in an advancing direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the transfer bar actuating sleeve member 128 islprovided with a pair of lugs 142 and 143 which threadedly receivethreaded studs 144 and 145, respectively, and which serve as adjustablestops for controlling the amount of angular movement which will beimparted to the transfer bar actuating member 128 and thereby serve tocontrol the pivotal positioning of the transfer arms. The threaded studs144 and 145 are disposed to engage a stop bar 146 to limit the amount ofrotation that may be imparted to the actuating member 128. Thus, whenthe transfer bar actuating member 12S is rotated to a position whereinthe arms of the transfer bar 127 are in operating position the stud 145of the lug 143 engages the stop bar 146 to effect a positive positioningof the arms in their operating position.

In operation with the transfer arms 13S, 13341, 13%, 138C, 138d, 138eand 138f in their operating pivotal position to advance the car wheelsin a controlled rolling movement of advancement, the fluid actuator 14@will be energized to operate in a rightward direction, as viewed inFIGS. 1b, 2b 3 and 4, to effect advancement of the transfer bar carrier119 rightwardly along the guide bars 116 and 117 and thereby effect theaxial movement of the transfer bar 127 for moving its associatedtransfer arms for advancing the car Wheels along the guide rail 65.Since, as previously mentioned, the machining unit at station 36 isidentical to the machining unit at station 43 and performs the sameprofiling and turning operation, only every other car wheel will bemoved into station 43 to have a profiling and turning operationperformed on it therein, and the fluid actuator 14@ will operate to movethe car wheels a distance corresponding to the space between twostations in a double step transfer. For example, as viewed in FIGS. lb,2b, 3 and 4, the car wheel in station 42 will have had a profiling andturning operation performed on it at the preceding machining station 36,and therefore, it will be necessary to pass this car wheel throughstation 43 into station 44 while the car wheel in station 41 must bemoved into station 43 to have a profiling and turning operationperformed on it. Since the transfer mechanism 54 associated with thework station 43 is an independently operable unit, the transfer bar 127,when retracted, will extend rearwardly through station 39 sufficientlyfar so that the end transfer arm 138 will be engageable with theperiphery of a car wheel in station 39 at the left side of the carwheel, as Shown in FIG... 2a, Thus, when the transfer mechanism operatesrightwardly in a transfer movement, the -car wheels that are in stations39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 will be advanced into stations 41 to 46,respectively. It is apparent that the car wheels in the odd numbered:stations will have a profiling and turning operation performed on themat the odd numbered turning station 43, while the car wheels in the evennumbered stations will have the same profiling and turning operationperformed on them at the even numbered station 36. When the transfer iscompleted, a dog 150 secured to the top of the bearing member 122, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7, will actuate a limit switch 151, shown in FIG.4, to deenergize the fluid actuator 140 for stopping its operation. Thelimit switch 151, when actuated, is also operable to 'effectenergization of the fluid actuator 132 carried by the carrier 119 toeffect its operation in a direction to rotate the transfer bar 127 in adirection to retract the arms 133 to 1387i, inclusive, .so as to movethe rollers of the arms out of car wheel engagement. When the transferbar 127 as been rotated sufficiently in a direction to fully retract thearms out of car wheel engagement, a dog 152 on the bottom of thetransfer bar, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, actuates a limit switch 153,shown in FIG. 4, to effect energization of the fluid actuator 140 forits operation in a direction to move the carrier 119 leftwardly formoving or retracting the transfer bar 127 to its original position. Whenretraction has been fully completed a dog 154 provided on the member122, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, actuates a limit switch 155 to effectde-energization of the fluid actuator 140 stopping its operation. Thelimit switch 151, when actuated, will also operate to initiate theiixturing cycle, to be subsequently described, so that fixturing of thecai wheel to the fixture head 95a takes place at the same time that thetransfer bar 127 is being retracted.

Since the transfer mechanisms 53 and 54 both operate in double steptransfers and operate only every other cycle, their associated transferbars are mechanically connected together and the fluid actuators thereofare operated simultaneously so that the transfer mechanisms 53 and 54operate as a single unit. That is, the transfer mechanisms 53 and 54operating as a unit and in every other cycle function to transfer carwheels in stations 33 through 44 into stations 35 through 46,respectively.

Since the transfer mechanism 52 operates from station 28 through station33, .a transfer bar 156 thereof is provided with an arm 157 having aroller 153, an arm 157a having rollers 158a and 1581), an arm 157bhaving rollers 158e and 158d, an arm 157e having rollers 158e and 158f,an arm 157d having rollers 158g and 158k, and an arm 157e having rollers158i and 158]'. Thus, the periphery of the car wheels in the stations 28to 32 will be engaged on opposite sides of the wheel by a pair ofrollers which serve to advance the car wheels along the guide rail in acontrolled rolling movement of advancement. It will be noted that a carwheel in the station 33 is engaged only by the roller 158]' and as thetransfer mechanism 52 is operated in an advancing movement the car wheelin the station 33 will be advanced by the roller 158]' but no controlroller has been provided. To prevent the car wheel being advanced fromstation 33 into station 34 from rolling past the latter station, asolenoid actuated stop mechanism 159 is provided. The stop mechanism 159comprises a solenoid 167 having a plunger 169, as diagrammatically shownin FIG. 2a. The solenoid 167 is normally de-energized to permit theplunger 169 thereof to extend into the path of travel of the car wheelsso that a car wheel advanced along the production line from station 33into station 34 by the roller 158]' of the arm 157e will be stopped atthe station 34 by the extended plunger 169 of the stop mechanism 159.The necessity of omitting a companion control roller for the advancingroller 153]' is apparent if it is recalled that during each alternatecycle of operation the transfer mechanisms 52 and 53 operatesimultaneously. Therefore, if a C0111- panion control roller wassupplied for the advancing roller 158] a car wheel advanced from station33 into station 34 would be engaged by the advance roller 1581' and theomitted control roller. It would also be engaged by the rollers 197 and197a of the arms 19S and 198e of the transfer bar 199 of the transfermechanism 53. Therefore, during the cycle of operation wherein thetransfer mechanisms 52 and 53 operate simultaneously to effectadvancement of car wheels the transfer mechanism 52 is operating toadvance car wheels one station, so that it would function to advance thecar wheel in the station 33 into station 34. However, at the same time,the transfer mechanism 53 is engaging the same wheel in station 33 butis operating to advance car Wheels two stations and would function toadvance the car wheel in station 33 into station 35 but would beprevented from doing so by the control roller of the transfer mechanism52 if such control roller were not omitted. Thus, by omitting thecompanion control roller for the advancing roller 158]' and providingthe stop mechanism 159, such interference is avoided and the transfermechanism 53 is able to move the car wheel in station 33 two stationsand beyond the range of the transfer mechanism 52.

With the arrangement shown, when the transfer mechanisrn 53 is operatedso that the transfer bar 199 thereof is rotated to retract the arms 19Sprior to a resetting movement of the transfer mechanism into theposition it occupies, as shown in FIG. 2a, a limit switch (not shown) isactuated and operates to energize the solenoid 167 of the stop mechanism159 to effect withdrawal of the plunger 169 thereof out of the path ofthe travel of the car wheels. Therefore, when the transfer mechanism 53has been positioned, as shown in FIG. 2n, and the arms thereof areengaged with car wheels in the various stations, the transfer mechanism53 may operate to advance the car wheels through two stations and willcontinue to move the car Wheel out of engagement with the roller 158]'of the arm 157e of the transfer mechanism 52, so as to advance it intothe station 35. As the transfer mechanism 53 fully advances, anotherlimit switch (not shown) will be released to effect de-energization ofthe solenoid 167 of the stop mechanism 159 to permit the plunger 169thereof to be spring returned into the path of car wheel travel. In thiscondition the arrangement is set for the next cycle of operation whereinthe transfer mechanisms 53 and 54 are idle and the transfer mechanism 52operates to advance car wheels one station.

Each of the transfer mechanisms 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 are identicalin construction and arrangement except for the length of the individualtransfer bars, the description `of the transfer mechanism 54 will applyto all of the other transfer mechanisms. It should be kept in mind,however, that the transfer mechanisms 5i), 51, 52 and 55 operate everycycle while the transfer mechanisms 53 and 54 operating as a unit,operate only every other cycle. Therefore, the transfer mechanism 55will operate to rnove workpieces in stations 45, 46 and 47 into stations46, 47 and 48, respectively. Since at the time the transfer mechanism 55operates in its rst cycle the transfer mechanisms 53 and 54 are idled,station 45 will be vacant during one cycle. On the second cycle ofoperation the transfer mechanism 55 will operate to move car wheels thatare in stations 46 and 47 into stations 47 and 48. The now vacatedstation 46 and the previously vacated station 45 are therefore free toreceive car wheels from stations 43 and 44 by operation of the transfermechanism 54.

As previously stated, the exemplary machine tool illustrated includesthe storage station 20 and loading station 21 which cooperate to providea novel means for providing a continuous supply of car wheels to thetransfer line. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of car wheels aresupplied to a storage rack 168 of the storage station 20 by suitablemeans such as a mobile truck or power lift (not shown). The rack 160 hasa plurality of separate 10 chuts or stalls 161, 162, 163, 164 and 165formed by' horizontally spaced apart fence rails. Thus, a plurality ofcar wheels are available in the individual chutes in an uprightcondition for movement individually into the loading station 21.

The unloading station 48 and storage or bank station 49 are very similarto the loading station 21 and storage station 20. The finished carwheels are transferred from the transfer line guide rail 65 by beingrolled into an indexable carriage, generally identified by the referencenumeral 275 in FIG. 1b. The carriage 275 is provided with a plurality ofchutes 298 and the indexing movement of the carriage 275 serves tosuccessively align each of these chutes 298 with the guide rail 65 forindividually receiving the completed wheels in the manner described inthe above mentioned Patent 3,118,332.

The move out stations 25, 29, 33 and 39 are identical in constructionand operation and therefore the following description of the move outstation 25 will apply to all of the move out stations. As shown in FIGS.1, 10 and 11, the move out station 25 comprises a base or bed 385 thatis arranged transversely of the transfer line. A carriage 386 having a.plurality of flanged supporting wheels 387 is movably supported on apair of longitudinally extending parallel rails 388 and 389 that extendthe full length of the bed 385. A table 391 is supported on the carriage386 for rotation about a shaft 392 that is secured in the carriage 386.The shaft 392 about which the table 391 rotates also serves to maintainand secure the table in position on the carriage 386. To this end, thetable 391 is provided with a downwardly extending boss 394, having anaxial opening 395 the upper portion 396 of which is enlarged so as toaccommodate an enlarged head portion 397 of the shaft 392. Anantifriction bearing 398 is mounted within the opening 395 of the tablewith the inner race thereof engaged upon the shaft 392. Thus, the table391 is free to rotate on the shaft 392. An erilarged portion 399 of theshaft 392 engages against the top surface of the inner race of thebearing 398 while a spacer 481 mounted about the shaft 392 abuts the topsurface of a carriage deck 402 and is disposed so that its opposite endengages against the opposite face of the inner race of the bearing 398.Thus, the bearing 398 is confined in position Within the axial opening395 of the table 391 between the spacer 401 and the enlarged portion 399of the shaft 392. The lower end of the shaft 392 extends through anopening provided in the deck 402 of the carriage 386 and extends into ahub 403 provided on the under surface of the carriage deck 402 intoengagement with an inwardly extending radial flange 404 that forms ashoulder for supporting and locking the shaft to the carriage. A reducedthreaded portion 406 extends through an opening in the flange 404 andthreadedly receives a nut 407 which is engaged thereon so as to snuglyengage against the lower surface of the flange 404 of the hub 403 tothereby lock the shaft in vertical position to the carriage 386. Thetable 391 is provided with four supporting rollers 410, 411, 412 and 413which are rotatably mounted in the table 391 and are spaced apart, withthe rollers being arranged so as to ride upon a circular way surface 414provided on the top surface of the deck 402 of the carriage 386 tothereby stabilize and support the table 391 on the carriage 386 as itrotates about the shaft 392.

The table 391 is provided with a car Wheel supporting and guiding rail65a which in effect is a portion of the guide rail 65 previouslymentioned but which is sectionalized at the move out stations so that itmay move with the table 391.

Upstanding from the table 391 is a supporting structure, generallyindicated at 416, comprising a pair of upright spaced columns 417, oneof which is shown in FIG. 10. A horizontal bridge plate 418 is securedto the top of the columns, the entire structure being rigidly reinforcedby means of an intermediate vertical column 419. Secured to andextending outwardly over the guide rail 65a are a pair of spaced arrnmembers 421 and 422 to which is secured an outer upper fence rail 62bwhich is a sectionalized extension of the upper fence rail 62,previously described in connection with the transfer mechanism 54 andclearly shown in FIG. 5. An upper inner fence rail 61b likewiseconstitutes a portion of the upper inner fence rail 61 of the transferline and is secured to the edge of the bridge plate 418l adjacent to thelocation of the car wheels. The sectionalized fence rails 61b and 62hserve to maintain the car wheel in a vertical position on thesectionalized guide and supporting rail 65a.

The carriage 386 is movable along the guide rails 388 and 389 and isactuated in its path of travel by means of a fluid actuator, generallyindicated by the reference numeral 425, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Theuid actuator 425 comprises a cylinder 426 this isdisposed on the deck424) of the bed 385 between the guide rails 388 and 389. The outer endof the cylinder 426 is pivotally secured as at 427 to a bracket 428 thatis mounted on a vertical plate 429.which is fastened to the end of thebed 385. A piston (not shown) is reciprocally supported within thecylinder 426 and is provided with a piston rod 431, the free end 432y ofwhich is secured to a depending bracket 433 that is carried by the frameof the carriage 386. When the piston 430 is in its leftward limit ofmovement, as viewed in FIG. l0, the free end 432 of the piston rod 431extends approximately to the left end of the bed 385.

As previously mentioned, the table 391 is rotatably supported on thecarriage 386 and is adapted to be rotated 90 as the carriage is movedrightwardly on the bed 385 in a retracting movement away from thetransfer line. In this manner the car wheel, as it is withdrawn from thetransfer line, will also be positioned so that it will be free to berolled out of the retracted move out station mechanism olf of thesectionalized guide rail 65a away from the machine tool. In order toeffect the 90 rotation of the table 391 as the carriage is retracted, anangular extending cam plate 434 is secured to the top surface of thetable. As shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and l2, the cam plate 434 is disposed onthe table 391 to extend angularly therefrom at an angle of 45. The camplate 434 is provided with a cam track, generally identied by thereference numeral 436. The cam track 436 comprises a table rotatingportion 437, the axis of which is disposed at 45 to the path of travelof the carriage 386 and also passes through the axis of the shaft 392about which the table 391 is rotatable. The cam track 436 also includesand idle portion 438, the axis of which is disposed so as to be parallelto the path of travel of the carriage 391 and also to intersect the axisof the rotating portion 437 at an angle of 45. A vertical cam follower439 is disposed to extend within the cam track 436 and is iixedlymounted on a vertical bracket 441 that is secured to the side of the bed385 as shown in FIG. 10.

As the fluid actuator 425 is energized to retract the carriage 386 toeffect withdrawal of the car wheel from the transfer line, the carriage386 and the table 391 will be moved rearwardly a distance sufficient towithdraw the car wheel from the transfer line. During this initialrearward movement, the cam follower 439 is located within the idleportion 438 of the cam track. Thus, when the car wheel is in thetransfer line, the cam follower 439 will be in the position A within theidle portion 438 of the calm track, as shown in FIGS. l1 and 12. Uponinitial retraction of the carriage rearwardly to clear the car wheelfrom the transfer line, the cam follower 439 will be in a posit-ion Bwithin the cam track 436, as shown in FIG. 12a. As the carriage isfurther retracted the side 442 of the rotating portion 437 `of the camtrack 436 will engage the cam follower 439 to effect an arcuate shiftingof the cam plate 434 and thereby force the table 391 to rotate on thecarriage 386 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 12a. Asretraction of the carriage 386 continues, the carriage 386 will be movedin a position wherein the rotating portion 437 of the cam track 436 istransverse to the path of travel of the carriage thereby effectingrotation of the table 391 to a position which is 45 from its originalaligned position, as shown in FIG. 12b. At this time the cam follower439 will be in the position indicated at C, in FIG. 12b. As carriageretraction continues, the side 422 of the table rotating portion 437 ofthe cam track 436 forcefully engages the cam follower 439 to effectfurther clockwise rotation of the table 391. When the carriage 386 isfully retracted, the table will have been rotated substantially from itsaligned position and the cam follower 439 will be at the position D, asindicated in FIG. 12C.

Energization of the fluid actuator 425 is effected by manually actuatinga lever 446 rightwardly, as viewed in FIG. l0, the lever 446 operatingto position a plunger within a valve body 447 to direct fluid pressurethrough a normally open deceleration valve 448 from whence it isdirected to the uid actuator 425 to activate it in a direction toretract the carriage 386. As the carriage approaches a fully retractedposition, a dog 449 mounted on the side of the carriage 386 engages aplunger 450 of the deceleration valve 448 for moving it inwardly togra-dually restrict the flow of fluid pressure through the valve andslow the action of the fluid actuator 425. The deceleration valve 448 isnot, however, completely closed, and the fluid actuator 425 will operateto retract the carriage 386 at a slow rate until the carriage engages apositive stop 451, shown in FIG. ll, positioned at the end of the bed385.

To return the carriage to its advanced location in the transfer line,the lever 446 is manually actuated to its vertical position, as viewedin FIG. l0, which operates to position the plunger of the valve 447 soas to direct fluid pressure to the head side of the piston 430 in thecylinder 426. Since the deceleration valve 448 is maintained partiallyclosed by reason of the dog 449 being in engagement with the plunger 450of the valve 448, the advancing movement of the carriage will be at aslow rate until the dog 449 is moved out of engagement with the plunger450 permitting the valve 448 to be conditioned to its normal opencondition. As the carriage 386 returns the table 391 will be rotated ina counterclockwise direction 90 to its original position by operation ofthe cam follower 439 and cam track 436. The full adavance position ofthe carriage 386 is established by means of an adjustable positive stop452 mounted on the front end of the bed 385, shown in FIGS. l0 and 1l.

The fixture heads 81, 81a, 95 and 95a of the work stations 2'7, 31, 36and 43, respectively, all operate in a manner to engage a car wheel inthe transfer line at their respective stations, and are operable towithdraw the car wheel from the transfer line into clamped engagementwith the fixture head so that it may be rotated in a work operation. Thefixture heads each have braking means whereby rotation of the fixtureheads is stopped prior to the return of the car wheel into the transferline.

The inspection station 46, as shown in FIG. 9, cornprises a base or bed835 that is disposed transversely of the transfer line, and on which ismovably supported a car wheel supporting frame, generally identified bythe reference numeral 836. The movable car wheel supporting frame 836comprises a pair of parallel side members 837, one of which is shown,that are upstanding from a base plate 838. The side members 837 arerigidly connected together by means of a reinforcing tie member 839.Upstanding from the top surface of the bed 835 and disposed on eitherside of the side members 837 are a pair of trunnions 841, one of whichis shown. The trunnions support inwardly extending stub shafts 842 onwhich the car wheel supporting frame 836 is pivotally mounted formovement from the upright position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 9, toa horizontal position, shown in broken lines therein. For supporting 13a car wheel in position at the station 46 the guide rail 65 isinterrupted and the station provided with a pair of aligned supportingrollers 846 and 847. The rollers 846 and 847 are identical and thereforereference will be made to the roller 847 with the description thereofapplying to its companion roller 846.

The roller 847 having a tapered periphery which is inclined inwardlytoward its axis, its configuration being a frustum of a cone, as shownin FIG. 9, is rotatably supported on a stub shaft 848 which is mountedin a bracket 849 that extends upwardly from the base plate 8738 of thecar wheel supporting frame 836. The pair of aligned supporting rollers846 and 847 serve to receive and support the car wheels which aretransferred along the guide rail 65 and into position in the station 46.Likewise, the upper fence rail 61 and the lower fence rail 63 areinterrupted at station 46 and replaced by a pair of bar members 850 and851 which are secured to the front surfaces of the side members of thesupporting frame 836. Since the peripheries of the rollers 846 and 847are tapered inwardly toward the frame 836, as shown in FIG. 9, a carwheel moved onto the rollers will be urged against the bar members 850and 851 so as to be maintained in an upright position. To remove the carwheel from the line for inspection purposes the frame 836 is moved fromthe vertical position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 9, to a horizontalposition, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 9, and while this is beingdone the car wheel must be securely clamped to the supporting frame 836.To clamp the car wheel to the frame member 836 a clamp member 855 isprovided which operates to clamp the car wheel on the supporting rollers846 and 847, and also to draw the car wheel against the bar members 850and 851. To this end, the clamp S55 comprises an arm 856 which ispivotally secured to a bracket 857 that depends from the tie member 839.The arm member 856 is disposed so as to engage the periphery of the carwheel by being moved into position through a fluid actuator 858 which isoperable to pivot the arm 856 into a clamping engagement with the carwheel or to effect movement of the arm 856 out of clamping engagementtherewith.

The fluid actuator compises a cylinder 859, one end of which ispivotally connected to a horizontally extending bracket 861 that issecured to a cross plate 862 carried by the side members 837 of thesupporting frame 836. The cylinder 859 reciprocally supports a pistonhaving a piston rod 863, the free end of which is pivotally connected tothe end of the arm S56 as at 864. As the fluid actuator 85S is energizedto effect outward movement of the piston rod 863, the arm 856 is pivotedabout the bracket 857 so as to move the end of the arm adjacent the carwheel downwardly to engage a pad 865 thereof into the radius formed bythe flange and tread of the car wheel, to clamp the car wheel to thesupporting rollers 846 and 847 on which it is cradled and against thebar member 850 and 851. In a releasing action the actuator 858 isenergized for operation in the opposite direction, moving the piston rod863 inwardly within the cylinder 859 thereby disengaging the arm 856from the car wheel to free the car wheel for further advancement tostation 47 through the operation of the transfer mechanism 55. When thecar wheel is clamped, the supporting frame 836 may be pivoted betweenits vertical position and its horizontal position by operation of a uidactuator 867 which is operable to pivot the trarne 836 about the stubshafts 842 of the trunnions 841. The fluid actuator 867 comprises acylinder 868 which is horizontally disposed in the bed 835 and has oneend thereof pivotally secured thereto. The cylinder 868 supports amovable piston that is provided with a piston rod 869 which extendsoutwardly of the cylinder 868 having its outer end pivotally connectedto a bracket 871 that is welded or otherwise secured to the bottomsurface of the bottom plate 838 of the supporting frame 836. The fluidactuator 867 may be energized to lower the supporting frame 836 into ahorizontal inspection position by manuallyl moving a lever 872rightwardly as viewed in FIG. 9 from a vertical neutral position.Rightward movement of the lever 872 operates to condition a valve 873that it is associated with to direct fluid pressure to the hydraulicactuator 867 to effect its operation for lowering the supporting frame836. By manually returning the actuating lever 872 to the verticalposition the uid actuator 867 will be energized to effect movement ofthe supporting frame 836 upwardly into the vertical position to returnthe car wheel into the transfer line. Likewise, the clamp actuator 858is energized by manually manipulating a lever 875 rightwardly from itsvertical position shown, which movement conditions a valve 876 that itis associated with to effect energization of the fluid actuator 858 fora clamping operation. To reverse the operation of the actuator 858 forreleasing the car wheel, the lever 875 is returned to its verticalposition. The valves 873 and 876 are mounted on a supporting bracket 878that is secured to the side of the bed 835.

With the arrangement described, a car wheel at the inspection stationand in an upright condition will be cradled on the supporting rollers846 and 847 and maintained in an upright condition by the bars 850 and851, and the upper fence rail 62. In this position the car wheel may bemanually rotated on the rollers 846 and 847 for inspection purposes sothat all portions of the rear face of the car wheel can be readilyobserved by the inspector. For gauging the flange and periphery of thecar wheel and for inspecting the front face thereof the car wheel may beclamped and the frame 836 lowered to the horizontal position andinspection may be conveniently performed.

From the foregoing detailed description of the structure and operationof the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, it will beapparent that an improved transfer type machine tool has been providedwhich is especially adapted to facilitate the inspection of thecompleted workpieces before they are removed from the' machine byincluding an inspection station wherein a heavy workpiece can bemaneuvered into any desired position for the convenience of the operatorand with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the operator.

Although the illustrative embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in considerable detail for the purpose of making a fulldisclosure of a practical operative structure, it is to be understoodthat the various novel features of the invention may be incorporated inother structural forms without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as defined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of this invention having now been fully explained inconnection with the foregoing description, we hereby claim as ourinvention:

1. In a transfer and handling apparatus for circular edge supportedworkpieces requiring continuous support to prevent lateral tipping ineither direction:

a longitudinally extending guideway comprising a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apart upper and lower guide rails constituting atransfer pathway for supporting and guiding a circular workpiece on edgein an upright position for movement therealong;

a station along said transfer pathway at which a Workpiece may beremoved or inserted out of or into said transfer pathway selectively,said station cornprising a laterally movable frame member;

a pair of longitudinally spaced apart rotatable support rollers carriedby said frame and disposed in alignment with said lower guide rail tocooperate with said lower guide rail to provide a continuous pathway,said support rollers being further operable to support a circularworkpiece on edge in an upright position in a manner that the workpiecemay be rotated about its own axis;

lateral guide means carried by said frame and operable to preventlateral tipping movement in either direction of a circular workpiecesupported on edge on said supporting rollers;

a clamping member carried by said frame for engagement with a workpiecesupported on said rollers, said clamping member in cooperation with saidsupport rollers being operable to securely clamp a workpiecetherebetween;

power means connected to actuate saidV clamping member in a clamping orreleasing action selectively;

a power driven transfer mechanism operable to engage and advance edgesupported circular workpieces along said transfer pathway into positionon said supporting rollers; and,

second power means connected to move said frame member with a workpiecesecured thereto laterally out of said transfer pathway.

2. In a circular workpiece handling apparatus:

a transfer guideway operable to support and guide a circular workpieceon edge in an upright position for movement therealong;

an inspection station along said transfer guideway comprising a pair ofroller supports aligned with the path of the transfer guideway and anupwardly spaced selectively engageable clamp member, said clamp memberand said roller supports disposed to cooperate to secure a workpiecetherebetween, said clamp member and said roller supports being carriedfor bodily lateral movement for moving a workpiece out or into saidtransfer guideway;

power means connected to actuate said clamp member into or out ofworkpiece engagement selectively;

second power means operably connected to bodily move said clamp memberand said roller supports laterally; and,

a power driven transfer means connected to effect the movement of edgesupported circular workpieces along said transfer guideway forselectively positioning workpieces at said inspection station,

whereby a circular workpiece is supported on its edge in an uprightposition for movement into and out of said inspection station, and theworkpiece may be rotated in said inspection station for inspectionpurposes, and a workpiece may be removed from said transfer guideway orinserted therein selectively.

3. In an article handling apparatus for edge supported circularworkpieces:

a movable frame;

a pair of rotatable supports carried by said frame and constitutinglower guide means;

upper guide means cooperating with said lower guide means to support acircular workpiece on edge in an upright position for rotation on saidrotatable supports;

a movable clamp member supported by said frame in vertically spacedrelationship to said rotatable supports;

power means connected to operate said clamp member into engagement witha circular workpiece supported on edge on said pair of rotatablesupports to securely clamp a workpiece therebetween;

second power means connected to move said frame for moving a clampedworkpiece laterally;

upper and lower transfer guide means respectively disposed at oppositesides of said rotatable supports and said upper guide means forcooperation therewith to constitute a continuous transfer pathway; and,

power operated transfer means engageable with the edge of said circularworkpiece on opposite sides thereof to guidably constrain the edgesupported circular workpiece for movement along said transfer pathway.

4. In a workpiece handling apparatus for supporting and handlingcircular workpieces that require lateral support for maintaining themupright:

a transfer pathway comprising support means and longitudinally extendingtransversely spaced guide means cooperably disposed to support and guidea circular workpiece on edge in upright position;

an inspection station disposed along said transfer pathway comprising amovable frame provided with spaced rollers rectilinearly aligned withsaid support means, said rollers being adapted to support a circularworkpiece for both rectilinear transfer movement and for rotatableinspection movement;

power means connected to effect selective movement of said frame fromits normal position wherein said rollers are rectilinearly aligned withsaid support means; and,

a power driven transfer means operative to advance a workpiece on edgealong said transfer pathway and into said inspection station in positionon said rollers for rotation.

5. In a workpiece handling apparatus:

a continuous transfer pathway along which circular workpieces are movedon edge and in upright position;

an inspection station disposed along said transfer pathway into which aworkpiece is moved, said inspection station having means for rotatablysupporting the circular workpiece therein, said inspection station alsobeing adapted to move a circular workpiece in said station out of anupright position into a horizontal position; and,

power operated transfer means operably connected to move workpiecesalong said transfer pathway and individually locate them in saidinspection station and remove them therefrom.

6. In a transfer and handling apparatus for edge supported workpieces:

support means for supporting workpieces on edge in an upright positionfor movement in a predetermined path of travel;

an inspection station disposed to receive a workpiece in uprightposition from said support means, said inspection stations comprisinglaterally movable means for rotatably supporting a workpiece forrotation about its own axis and a cooperative laterally movable clampmember selectively engageable with a workpiece supported in uprightposition on said rotatable supporting means to securely clamp aworkpiece therebetween;

means operably connected to actuate said clamp member towards saidrotatably supporting means;

means operably connected to effect the simultaneous lateral movement ofsaid rotatable supporting means and said clamp member to thereby move aworkpiece secured therebetween laterally out of the predetermined pathof travel; and,

power operated transfer means to move workpieces along said supportmeans in the predetermined path of travel and individually locate themin said inspection station and remove them therefrom.

7. In a transfer and handling `apparatus for edge supported workpieces:

support means for supporting the workpieces on edge in an uprightposition for movement in a predetermined path of travel;

an inspection station disposed to receive workpieces moved along saidsupport means, said inspection station comprising roller supportingmeans operably arranged to receive workpieces moved along said supportmeans and to rotatably support a workpiece in an upright position forrotation about its own axis; and,

transfer means for moving workpieces successively along said supportmeans into said inspection station,

8. In a transfer and handling apparatus for edge supported workpieces:

support means for supporting workpieces on edge in an upright positionfor movement in a predetermined path of travel;

means for receiving a workpiece from said support means and operable tosupport the workpiece in upright position for rotation about its ownaxis; and,

power operated workpiece advancing means operable to move a workpiecealong said support means and locate it in said receiving means andremove it therefrom.

9. In an article handling apparatus for moving an edge supportedcircular workpiece into and out of a transfer line along which theworkpiece is adapted to be advanced:

a frame disposed adjacent the transfer line and adapted to be pivotallymovable about a horizontal axis which is parallel to the transfer line;

a pair of rotatable supports rotatably supported by said frame anddisposed to extend into the path of travel of a circular workpiece beingtransferred along the transfer line, said pair of rotatable supportsconstituting lower guide means adapted to receive the edge of an edgesupported circular workpiece in the plane in which the workpiece istransferred along the transfer line;

a movable clamp carried by said frame in vertical spaced relationship tosaid pair of rotatable supports, said clamp in cooperation with saidrotatable supports being operable to securely clamp an edge supportedcircular workpiece therebetween;

power means carried by said frame and connected to actuate said clamp;

a second power means operably connected to effect pivotal movement ofsaid frame for moving a workpiece out of said transfer line;

a pair of longitudinally spaced apart laterally movable transferelements selectively engageable with the side edges of a circularworkpiece supported on the transfer line for rectilinear movement; and,

a third power means connected to effect lateral movement -of saidtransfer elements into and out of engagement with a workpiece.

10. In apparatus for facilitating the inspection of a circular workpiecesupplied to it in an upright position;

a base;

a frame pivotally supported on said base for movement between an uprightposition and a horizontal position;

a pair of rollers rotatably supported by said frame in alignment toreceive and rotatably support a circular workpiece in an uprightposition thereon;

a clamp member carried by said frame in position to clamp a workpiece inposition on said rollers;

a first power means mounted on said frame and operably connected toactuate said clamp member in a clamping or releasing action;

a second power means mounted 4on said base and operably connected topivot said frame and thereby the workpiece clamped thereto from a vertilposition to a horizontal position;

a first control means operably connected to effect operation of saidtirst power means; and,

a second control means operably connected to actuate said second powermeans;

whereby a workpiece positioned on said rollers may be rotated thereon inan upright position and the workpiece may be clamped to said rollers andsaid frame and pivoted from a vertical position to a horizontal positionso as to facilitate inspection of the upwardly facing surface of theworkpiece.

11. In apparatus for handling a circular workpiece:

a base;

a frame pivotally mounted on said base for movement between a verticalposition and a horizontal position;

rotatable supports carried by said frame for receiving and rotatablysupporting a circular workpiece in an upright position;

a clamp mechanism carried by said frame in position to be engageablewith a workpiece on said rotatable supports and operable when engagedwith the workpiece to effectively clamp it in position on said rotatablesupports;

a first reversible power source carried by said frame and operablyconnected to actuate said clamp mechanisrn in a clamping or releasingaction; and,

a second reversible power source mounted on said base and operablyconnected to actuate said frame between a vertical position and ahorizontal position;

whereby a workpiece on said rotatable supports may be rotated in anupright position and the workpiece may be clamped in upright position onsaid rotatable supports and said frame actuated to pivot the workpiecefrom an upright position to a horizontal position.

12. In an article handling device for handling workpieces on edge in anupright position and which provides support for maintaining theworkpieces in an upright position:

a longitudinally extending guide rail disposed to support a workpiecetherealong, said guide rail comprising stationary rail portions andbodily movable rail portions normally maintained in longitudinalalignment with said stationary rail portions to constitute a continuoussupporting guideway;

longitudinally extending stationary upper fence rails disposed tocooperate with said stationary workpiece supporting guideways tomaintain an edge supported workpiece upright on said guideway;

movable upper fence rail portion aligned with said stationary upperfence rails to constitute a continuous upper constraining means whichoperates to prevent lateral tipping of the edge supported workpiece ineither direction;

a transfer means operably connected to move a workpiece along saidstationary guide rail for positioning the workpiece upon the movableportion of said guide rail; and,

power means connected to effect bodily movement of said movable guiderail and said movable fence rail portions out of alignment with therespective stationary guide rails and fence rails,

whereby an edge supported workpiece may be moved out of or inserted intothe longitudinally extending guideway selectively.

13. In apparatus for removing a circular workpiece in an uprightposition from a transfer line:

a base located in the transfer line;

a carriage supported on said base in position to intersect the transferline, said carriage being movably supported on said base for movementbetween an aligned position and a retracted position;

a table rotatably supported on said carriage for movement with it andfor independent rotation relative to it;

a guideway mounted on said table in position to receive a workpiece fromthe transfer line and operable to support the workpiece in an uprightposition;

power means carried by said base and operably connected to said carriageto actuate it in its path of travel between an aligned position and aretracted position; and,

table rotating mechanism operably connected to eifect rotation of saidtable on said carriage as said carriage is moved in its path of travel.

14. In apparatus for moving a circular workpiece in an upright positionfrom one position to another:

a base;

a carriage movably supported on said base for movement between a firstposition and a second position;

a table pivotably supported on said carriage for movei9 ment with it andfor pivotal movement relative to it; means on said table operabler toreceive and support a circular workpiece in an upright position on saidtable so that the workpiece will move with said table;

a source of power carried by said base and operably connected to actuatesaid carriage in its path of movement; and,

means operably connected to effect the pivotal movement of said table onsaid carriage as said carriage is moved on said base.

15. In apparatus for moving a circular workpiece in an upright positionfrom one position to another:

a base;

a carriage supported on said base for movement between a first positionto a second position;

a table supported on said carriage for rotational movement relative toit;

a guideway on said table operable to receive and support a circularworkpiece in an upright position for movement with said table;

a power source mounted on said base and operably connected to actuatesaid carriage in its movement; and,

a cam and carn follower mechanism operably connected to effectrotational movement of said table relative to said carriage as saidcarriage is moved in its path of travel,

whereby a circular workpiece supported on said table in an uprightposition may be moved from a first position to a second position andangularly orientated in a different direction when in said secondposition in respect to its initial direction in the first position.

path of References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,479,7671/1924 wolf.

2,883,858 4/1959 Bishman.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,028,871 5/1953 France.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner.

1. IN A TRANSFER AND HANDLING APPARATUS FOR CIRCULAR EDGE SUPPORTEDWORKPIECES REQUIRED CONTINUOUS SUPPORT TO PREVENT LATERAL TIPPING INEITHER DIRECTION: A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GUIDEWAY COMPRISING APLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL SPACED APART UPPER AND LOWER GUIDE RAILSCONSTITUTING A TRANSFER PATHWAY FOR SUPPORTING AND GUIDING A CIRCULARWORKPIECE ON EDGE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG; ASTATION ALONG SAID TRANSFER PATHWAY AT WHICH A WORKPIECE MAY BE REMOVEDOR INSERTED OUT OF OR INTO SAID TRANSFER PATHWAY SELECTIVELY, SAIDSTATION COMPRISING A LATERALLY MOVABLE FRAME MEMBER; A PAIR OFLONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART ROTATABLE SUPPORT ROLLERS CARRIED BY SAIDFRAME AND DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID LOWER GUIDE RAIL TO COOPERATEWITH SAID LOWER GUIDE RAIL TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS PATHWAY, SAID SUPPORTROLLERS BEING FURTHER OPERABLE TO SUPPORT A CIRCULAR WORKPIECE ON EDGEIN AN UPRIGHT POSITION IN A MANNER THAT THE WORKPIECE MAY BE ROTATEDABOUT ITS OWN AXIS; LATERAL GUIDE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME ANDOPERABLE TO PREVENT LATERAL TIPPING MOVEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION OF ACIRCULAR WORKPIECE SUPPORTED ON EDGE ON SAID SUPPORTING ROLLERS; ACLAMPING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID FRAME FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A WORKPIECESUPPORTED ON SAID ROLLERS, SAID CLAMPING MEMBER IN COOPERATION WITH SAIDSUPPORT ROLLERS BEING OPERABLE TO SECURELY CLAMP A WORKPIECETHEREBETWEEN; POWER MEANS CONNECTED TO ACTUATE SAID CLAMPING MEMBER IN ACLAMPING OR RELEASING ACTION SELECTIVELY; A POWER DRIVEN TRANSFERMECHANISM OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AND ADVANCE EDGE SUPPORTED CIRCULARWORKPIECES ALONG SAID TRANSFER PATHWAY INTO POSITION ON SAID SUPPORTINGROLLERS; AND, SECOND POWER MEANS CONNECTED TO MOVE SAID FRAME MEMBERWITH A WORKPIECE SECURED THERETO LATERALLY OUT OF SAID TRANSFER PATHWAY.